Rebecca Marx
Sister Species is a seven piece “orchestral pop” band hailing from Minneapolis that is fronted by sister’s Emily and Abby Kastrul. The band’s 2016 release Closer Now explores the sacred relationship between those that we share a bloodline with, including the working through of the inevitable issues that arise as we grow up so close to one another.
Sister Species recently released their first ever video for their single “Star”. The beautifully edited video was made by filmmakers Jack Davis and Eli Edleson-Stein of LoonarCity and features the band in a variety of nature laden bucolic settings, as well as scenes shot inside of band member’s homes. Just as the song itself delves into the light and darkness of interpersonal relationships, the video plays between the shades of day and night in a most beguiling way.
Frontwoman and accordionist Emily Kastrul elaborated on the video shoot for “Star”:
“One other thing worth noting is that the filmmakers Jack Davis and Eli Edleson-Stein (of LoonarCity) have a background in documentary film, which informed their approach in shooting. We had a sense of where we wanted to shoot, and what types of shots to have, as well as an abstract narrative– moving from darkness to light, indoors to outdoors– but there was also a really organic unfolding process that happened.
Making “Star” was similar to our songwriting process– Abby or I bring an early version of a song to the band, and then the rest of the musicians craft their parts and give it wings. There’s a lot of discovering and exploring, and plenty of space for people to try weird things and take the music to new or surprising places. Working with Jack and Eli was the same way– we came to them with our vision in the form of a song, and gave them a lot of space to play as visual filmmakers.”
The video left me pondering the dynamic of being in a band with your sister, of sharing the job of being front persons–together. That is a whole lot of togetherness! I approached Emily Kastrul about how the whole sisterhood dynamic works within Sister Species.
“Yes, sisters are definitely dynamic (we have another sister as well, not in the band though). I feel like having bandmates is such an intimate experience (sharing music/making decisions together/touring in tight spaces, etc) that you might as well be already related.
The name Sister Species is a biological concept that describes the two most closely related yet still distinct species (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
People often assume that Abby and I grew up singing together, but we had separate journeys that brought us each to music. We didn’t start playing together until we were adults. In a funny way, this band has been a healing space for us to learn how to support each other and communicate a shared creative vision.”
Whatever sibling issues the two talented Kastrul sisters have worked through, the result is joyfully cryptic experimental pop laden with charming accordion rhythms and unpredictable trumpet sections that glimmer amidst the vocal harmonies that only a shared gene pool can achieve. See Sister Species at the Aster Cafe this Friday the 13th with FloraFauna & Pat Keen:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1834602453428332/
February 11th at the Aster Cafe with Seasaw & Laska:
https://www.facebook.com/events/759388570879741/
Listen: https://sisterspecies.bandcamp.com/
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